When you’re seeking methods to lower heating and cooling bills, getting a smart thermostat is a wise decision. These devices pick up on your favorite temperatures and routine and then develop an energy-efficient schedule that matches. What’s even better is that you can adjust and watch your settings from nearly anywhere with your phone, whether you’re sitting in bed or out and about. (You might even be eligible for a free smart thermostat depending on rebate programs from your utility provider in Erie.)

In most instances, hooking up a smart home thermostat with the help of Patterson & Stirling is a straightforward process if you have a newer house. But what if your home is older or doesn’t have the proper wiring? Can you still install a smart thermostat without C wire? We’ll help you demystify the process so you can pick the recommended thermostat and receive energy savings for a long time.

What Is a C Wire and What Does It Do on a Thermostat?

Most programmable thermostats use batteries. When you’re making the move to a smart thermostat, you’ll learn that many require a C wire, or common wire, for power. If you don’t use this wire, your new thermostat may cause your heating and cooling system to malfunction.

You can ascertain if you have a C wire by doing the following:

  1. Turn off power to the thermostat at the breaker.
  2. Take off the thermostat and check the wiring.
  3. If there are five or six multicolored wires, you have what’s required for a smart thermostat. You might be thinking what color is the C wire on a thermostat—and the answer to that is often blue.
  4. If there are three or four thin multicolored wires, you’re close. Check the C wire isn’t rolled up inside the wall. If you can’t find one, we may be able to install one for you or you may be able to operate your new thermostat without one.
  5. If you have two thick wires, you may be able to run a smart thermostat with an adaptor just for high-voltage systems. Or you may be able to use a battery-powered smart thermostat, like the Lux Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat, if your wiring isn’t right and you don’t want to install new wiring.

Do Nest or ecobee Need a C Wire?

Two of the top brands are the Nest smart thermostat and ecobee smart thermostat. If you have two to four wires, these thermostats might work for you.

Nest says its thermostats are designed to need not a lot of power and can frequently share it with your HVAC system. However, you may need to have a professional like Patterson & Stirling put in a C wire with the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat if you’re experiencing power problems or a battery that’s constantly drained.

ecobee is compatible with 24-volt systems (ones with three to six thermostat wires) and comes with a C wire adaptor. So, you’re good if you don’t have a thermostat C wire.

Rely on Patterson & Stirling for Your Smart Thermostat Installation Needs

At Patterson & Stirling, we’re always on the lookout for methods to keep you cozier while keeping energy bills reasonable. If you have questions about upgrading to a smart thermostat without a C wire, give us a call at 814-308-0416. We can help you select the right model for your house and even add new wiring if needed.